Ethernet issue

[paparazi]

I have a random ethernet connection issue(when the PC has just been started or left idling for some time) it says internet connection unavailable and won't connect.
I am running Windows 7 Pro 64bit on a Gigabyte X58 motherboard with onboard Realtek Gigabit lan (8111C chipset)
I have tried the original and latest driver with no change.
To make it work I have found disabling and re-enabling will bring it back to life.
All the power saving lan settings are turned OFF.
I know this has been widely reported by lots of uses with this ethernet chipset using 64bit Windows 7 but have not seen a fix posted yet? anyone had any experiences of this yet?
Martin



On wings like angels whispers sweet
my heart it feels a broken beat
Touched soul and hurt lay wounded deep
Brown eyes are lost afar and sleep

 

[kjv1611]

I've not had that with wired LAN yet, but I have had it on one machine, on one home network with wireless.

I set up a used Dell XPS M1330 for someone that has a wireless N card built in, and it has Windows 7 64 bit.

At my house, the wireless always connected, never missed a beat. At the other persons house, it doesn't immediately connect upon booting - you have to tell Windows to connect. Otherwise its fine.

At least in my situation, the only difference I can think of is that at my house, I have a hidden SSID, no WPA2 encryption (currently), whereas at the house with the connection issue, it's a hidden SSID as well, and it DOES have WPA2 encryption.... hmm, in my case, maybe it's a driver issue? Could be same with yours as well, since Windows 7 is still so new.. just a guess for now.

--

"If to err is human, then I must be some kind of human!" -Me

 

[manhunter2826]

No problem with Fixed Ethernet also but a colleague of mine did have a problem with a wireless Belkin setup (for which they introduced a firmware update). As per kjv1611, connection kept intermittently dropping (every couple of hrs/days) and either the router would have to be rebooted or he would have tell Windows to reconnect ('connecting to wireless'). So, if not a firmware update, maybe a driver update?

 

[paparazi]

I must admit to thinking along those lines myself, that this is a driver issue.
There is a critical driver update in Windows, I have allowed the update to download and install twice now but each time the lan just doesn't work at all afterwards and I have had to roll back to the previous version.
I had a look on Realtek's website but gave up trying to find a newer driver version.
Present version installed is the one shown on Gigabytes website, probably not the latest but at least it works most of the time.
However,I am a little suprised given that both the motherboard and winblows 7 64bit have been with us a several of months now (longer in RC) and this fault has been seen many times.
Martin


On wings like angels whispers sweet
my heart it feels a broken beat
Touched soul and hurt lay wounded deep
Brown eyes are lost afar and sleep

 

[manhunter2826]

I wonder if you tried a usb-to-lan Ethernet adapter; realize it would not solve your problem with built-in lan but only be a minimal cost.

 

[wahnula]

My Win7 connectivity issues were solved (at least to this point) by disabling the other two onboard NICs (one wired, one wireless). Knowing you Martin you've probably already tried that...

Tony

Users helping Users...

 

[kjv1611]

Hmm, that'd be a nice simple fix if it works. Seems like I tried that on the m1330 I was working on, but I'll check into it as well on my end. I don't think the person uses Wired connections ever for their laptop anyway, and I can get access to it probably within the next few days at latest.

--

"If to err is human, then I must be some kind of human!" -Me

 

[paparazi]

Hi guys...thanks for your input.
Only one NIC on this model soooo not at option.

http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Support/Motherboard/BIOS_Model.aspx?ProductID=3103

I do have a USB to ethernet adapter but after paying out all this money on a new setup frankly I begrudge resorting to this slower unit.
As this issue only effects the connection on startup and when left for long periods it isn't realy interfering with my enjoyment too much....it's just more annoying than anything, having to disable then re-enable in device manager before the ethernet functions correctly.
I will wait patiently and in hope of a quick solution from Realtek/Microsoft or whoever decides to get their act into gear.
Martin

On wings like angels whispers sweet
my heart it feels a broken beat
Touched soul and hurt lay wounded deep
Brown eyes are lost afar and sleep

 

[kjv1611]

I'm shocked that a board from Gigabyte would only have one ethernet connection. Oh well, the person with the XPS laptop also didn't think it a big deal, and they aren't terribly computer savvy anyway, but I'd like to nail down any sort of solution just to know.

What I thought was really strange with the wireless on the XPS m1330 was that it worked 100% totally fine at my house, no encryption was the only difference.. Same router, everything... well, not EXACT same router, but different model.. Hmm..

Well, I'm with ya - hopefully/surely Microsoft and/or the MFGs will get it together on the drivers before terribly long. At least the drivers DO work.

--

"If to err is human, then I must be some kind of human!" -Me

 

[BadBigBen]

Martin, have you tried the VISTA driver?

The Win7 driver version on the RealTek site is at 7.009 where as the GigaByte one is 7.006...

http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads...d=5&Level=5&Conn=4&DownTypeID=3&GetDown=false

Ben
"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."
How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.
Only ask questions with yes/no answers if you want "yes" or "no"

 

[paparazi]

Why I couldn't see that driver I'll never know but it's installed and APPEARS to have cured the problem (hope I haven't spoken too soon) fingers crossed.
Thanks BadBigBen and to all that helped.
Martin

On wings like angels whispers sweet
my heart it feels a broken beat
Touched soul and hurt lay wounded deep
Brown eyes are lost afar and sleep

 

[BadBigBen]

^^^^ Knocks on wood...

[small]see my knuckles rapping my head...[/small]

Ben
"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."
How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.
Only ask questions with yes/no answers if you want "yes" or "no"

 

[paparazi]

Unfortunately...still the same this morning from startup.
Left it for a couple of minutes after it had booted fully and the connection still read not connected.
Disabled/re-enabled and it works...still the same...ah well.
Martin

On wings like angels whispers sweet
my heart it feels a broken beat
Touched soul and hurt lay wounded deep
Brown eyes are lost afar and sleep

 

[BadBigBen]

Now this may sound strange and actually stupid, but switch SATA ports...

been doing some research and one user found that when he switched the SATA ports that his disappearing NIC reappeared and was functioning correctly...

Windows 7 - Realtek LAN Driver disappears

http://www.sevenforums.com/drivers/4482-realtek-lan-driver-disappears.html

Ben
"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."
How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.
Only ask questions with yes/no answers if you want "yes" or "no"

 

[kjv1611]

Yeah, that definitely sounds weird/odd. But then again, I've seen the strangest stupidest fixes correct things that had me scratching my head for weeks otherwise. There have been times when I'd say, well all the obvious stuff doesn't work.... and doing THIS doesn't make any sense, but why not?... and it'd fix the issue. Ahh, technology.

--

"If to err is human, then I must be some kind of human!" -Me

 

[NFI]

I've built quite a few low-end servers based on high-end desktop boards and have found over and over again that the onboard ethernet is typically unreliable or prone to "weird" problems. I've found this true of Gigabyte, Asus and even Intel boards - particularly if the onboard LAN is gigabit and more so if I'm using a gigabit switch.

In every case, I've just fitted a network card and not used the onboard LAN - it doesn't really identify the problem, but it does give me a reliable, working machine...

 

[paparazi]

Well it failed altogether last night....just refused to connect at all. My wife was happily sowing her crops on farmville or :-{} using the wireless connection on her laptop and I couldn't do anything to get connected (enabled-disabled) rolled back the driver, tried a new ethernet cable, rebooted the rooter and modem and PC several times and even tried an addon PCI 10/100 card which I suspect would have worked if it had been compatible with Windows 7 64bit (I used to have loads of used ethernet cards laying about in my spares draw but had a clear out and the only one I could find was an anchient Netgear jobba which wasn't compatible)
Incidently, this issue has been there over two seperate installs...Windows 7 64 bit RC which I ran for a good 4 months until I purchased a Pro version of Windows 7 when it was released, then clean installed again.
I gave up in the end, resigning myself to the fact I would either be returning this motherboard or fitting a seperate ethernet card.
This morning.....you guessed it! working! it just doesn't make sense and has been solid for the last two hours.
I'm going to add a card and see how I go, I don't really want to go through an RMA which will probably reveal 'no fault found' on the return.
Martin

On wings like angels whispers sweet
my heart it feels a broken beat
Touched soul and hurt lay wounded deep
Brown eyes are lost afar and sleep

 

[danomac]

I had issues with this and managed to fix it by updating to the latest BIOS on the motherboard, and reinstalling the chipset drivers.

The best way is to get the chipset INF installer directly from Intel's website. For some reason, my Asus didn't work with the installer provided on their driver site. Mine would burst to high speed, die randomly, and fail to get an IP.

 

[BadBigBen]

to see if it is really hardware related, how about trying a Linux LiveCD, or install on a sep drive a Linux distro, and if that works without disconnecting then it is an OS & driver issue...

and the only problem I ever had with onboard NIC's was with the nVidia chipsets, due to their build in FireWall...

Ben
"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."
How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.
Only ask questions with yes/no answers if you want "yes" or "no"

 

[paparazi]

Point is...it doesn't disconnect...once it has connected connected it is as solid as a rock. The fault is that it doesn't automaticly connect from boot.
I have now fitted a second NIC, an old Linsys 10/100 PCI card. Found some older Vista 64 bit drivers that got it working and all seemed fine. Booted it up this morning....same.
I have a newer Realek card to install tonight (which should have a Windows 7 64bit specific drivers) but this is increasing looking like a Windows issue,
I just need to eliminate the possibility of a faulty router (with built in switch) as the wireless side clearly works (3 laptops running on this connection wirelessly without issues) but the hard wired main PC has the issue.
Martin

On wings like angels whispers sweet
my heart it feels a broken beat
Touched soul and hurt lay wounded deep
Brown eyes are lost afar and sleep